Sectional moldable spectacle frame

ABSTRACT

A spectacle frame comprising a hollow U-shaped base structure with bars pivotally mounted at the ends thereof and a pair of lever members pivotally mounted in the middle of the base structure and attachable by snap action to the upside of the base structure. Decorative eyebrow members are attachable by snap action of projections and recesses to the lever members.

This invention relates to a sectional moldable spectacle frame.

It is known that at present spectacle frames, both of spectacles forimproving the sight and sunglasses, have most various shapes, followingthe rules of fashion, technique and individual needs.

The Applicants of the present patent application are already the holdersof two similar patent applications in Italy, relating to sectionalmoldable spectacle frames.

The present patent application relates to an improvement in thestructures described and illustrated in the aforementioned applicationsso that the subject matter of the present invention is a particularstructure of a sectional moldable spectacle frame in which a particularsystem of mounting both of the lens holders and the "eyebrows" is used.

It is to be understood that the term "eyebrows" as used herein isintended to indicate those decorative elements which are arranged abovethe frame of the lunettes of the spectacles and which have a differentform according to the style and type of the spectacles.

The sectional moldable spectacle frame according to the invention isessentially formed of a substantially hollow U-shaped base structure atthe ends of which the bars are pivotally mounted which may or may not beflexible. In the vicinity of the middle or nosepiece of the basestructure, a pair of lever members is mounted, one on each side. Each ofthe lever members terminates at one end with an angularly bent-offportion adapted to lock the lens holder in position when the levermember is depressed. At the other end each lever member terminates witha recess adapted to receive with a snapping movement a projectionprovided on the framework and lock it in position. The framework is madehollow to accomodate the lever members therein. The lever members areprovided with at least two recesses to receive projections on theeyebrow members. These recesses for receiving the projections of theeyebrow members are undercut or made in mushroom shape to accomodate theprojections of similar shape and prevent them from leaving the recesseswhen the lever members are depressed. The lever members are secured tothe framework by a simple depressing snapping movement irrespective ofwhether the eyebrow members are secured or are not secured to the levermembers. When the lever members are depressed, the spectacles are readyfor use with the lens holders secured to the frame.

It is evident that this depression of the level elements will lock thelens carrying nosepiece to the framework and the spectacles are readyfor use independently of whether the eyebrow members are applied or arenot applied to the lever members.

According to a further feature of the present invention the projectionsfor insertion of the eye-brow members in the recesses provided in thelocking rods are located below the eyebrow members and are insertedsideways into the recesses of the rods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a sectional moldable spectacle frameaccording to the invention, shown with the eyebrow members mountedthereon;

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial front view of the spectacle framework ofthe spectacle frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the framework of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a lever member of the spectacle frame, thelever member being shown in the elevated position, with an eyebrowmember attached thereto;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the line V--V in FIG. 2 andshowing the pivot for pivotally mounting the lever member on the frame;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line VI--VI in FIG. 2 andshowing the coupling between the framework and the lever member withoutan eyebrow member applied thereto;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII--VII in FIG. 2 and showinghow the end of the locking lever is secured by snap action to theframework;

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along the line VIII--VIII in FIG. 2 andshowing the coupling between the locking lever and the framework, withan eyebrow member attached thereto, shown in dash-and-dot lines, and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the coupling between the eyebrowmember and the locking lever.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a spectacle frame according to the inventionsubstantially comprises a hollow base framework 1 at the ends 3 of whichthe bars 5, which may or may not be flexible, are pivotally mounted. Inthe middle 7 of the framework 1 there is a recess 9 in which a centralportion 11 of a lens carrying nosepiece 13 is inserted.

Locking members or levers 17 for locking the lens carrying nosepiece 13are pivotally mounted at 15 in the vicinity of the central portion 11.Provided at the ends of the levers 17 are snap locking means formed by aprojection 19 at each end of the framework 1 and a recess 21 in each ofthe levers 17.

The levers 17 for locking the lens carrying nosepiece 13, in the areafacing the middle of the spectacles, terminate with a convex flatportion 23 adapted to be coupled to respective likewise flat concaveportions 25 of the lens carrying nosepiece 13.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the levers 17 is provided with two recesses27 for insertion of corresponding projections 29 provided on the eyebrowmembers 31 for securing the latter to the levers 17.

It is to be noted that the recesses 27 are undercut or in mushroom shapeto accomodate the projections 29 of the eyebrow members 31 to preventthem from leaving the recesses when the levers 17 are depressed.

It is further to be noted that each lever member 17 beyond the pivotpoint 15 has a substantially Z-shaped cross section so as to form a rib18 when the levers 17 are depressed, the rib 18 being flush with theframework 1 and abutting the recess 20 thereof.

Another point to be noted, which is typical of the present frame,consists in that due to its very structure it permits an easycomposition of various elements with different forms and colors withoutusing tools or adhesive connections.

It is known that the eyebrow members are typical elements preferred byladies; however, with the present spectacle frame they may or may not beinserted depending on the type of spectacles and as desired by the user.

In the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of a non-limitingexample, it is obvious that the eyebrow members 31 are shown merely asan indicative example and for the purpose of showing how they aresecured to the rods 17.

Although the invention has thus been described in detail and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the described embodiment and that numerous changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A sectional moldable spectacle frame substantiallycomprising a hollow U-shaped base structure with bars pivotally mountedat the ends thereof;a pair of lever members pivotally mounted in thevicinity of the middle of said base structure, one on each side; a lenscarrying nosepiece in the middle between said lever members, saidnosepiece carrying a pair of lens holders, each of said lever membersterminating at one end thereof with an angularly bent-off portionadapted to lock said lens holders in position when said lever member isdepressed, and each of said lever members terminating at the other endthereof with a recess adapted to receive with a snapping movement aprojection provided on said base structure and lock it in position, saidbase structure being made hollow to accomodate said lever memberstherein; an eyebrow member attachable to each of said lever members,said lever members being provided with at least two recesses to receiveprojections on said eyebrow members, said recesses being of anappropriate shape to accomodate said projections of similar shape andprevent them from leaving said recesses when said lever members aredepressed, said lever member being secured to said base structure by asimple depressing snapping movement irrespective of whether said eyebrowmembers are secured to said lever members.
 2. A sectional moldablespectacle frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recesses forreceiving said projections of said eyebrow members are made in mushroomshape.
 3. A sectional moldable spectacle frame as claimed in claim 1,wherein said recesses for receiving said projections of said eyebrowmembers are undercut.
 4. A sectional moldable spectacle frame as claimedin claim 1, wherein said projections for insertion of said eyebrowmembers in said recesses in said lever members are arranged below saideyebrow members and are adapted to be inserted sideways in said recessesin said lever members.
 5. A sectional moldable spectacle frame asclaimed in claim 1, wherein snap locking of said lever members in thebase structure is obtained by a lateral interlocking action between saidprojection of said base structure and said recess in each of said levermembers.
 6. A sectional moldable spectacle frame as claimed in claim 1,wherein each of said lever members is pivotally mounted on said basestructure and beyond the point of pivotal connection thereto has asubstantially Z-shaped cross section so as to form, when said levermember is depressed, a rib extending flush with said base structure andabutting said recess therein.
 7. A sectional moldable spectacle frame asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each of said lever members is pivotallymounted on said base structure by means of a pivot formed integrallywith said base structure and adapted to be inserted by snap action in agroove in said lever member.
 8. A sectional moldable spectacle frame asclaimed in claim 1, wherein its component parts and structure are suchas to permit easy composition of the various component parts withdifferent shapes and colors without using tools and adhesiveconnections.